Post-surgical aesthetic treatments

Manual lymphatic drainage is a key technique in post-surgical recovery, as it helps reduce oedema, inflammation and fluid accumulation. It supports the reabsorption of bruising and reduces the sensation of tissue tightness, contributing to a faster and more comfortable recovery.

Gentle, manual treatment

This procedure is performed manually, using gentle, slow and precise manoeuvres aimed at stimulating the lymphatic system and facilitating the natural elimination of excess fluid. It is a painless technique, without devices, which should always be applied in accordance with the instructions of the responsible surgeon. In many cases, it can begin between 24 and 48 hours after surgery, although the exact timing will depend on the type of procedure and the patient’s clinical progress.

Supporting healing

In addition to accelerating the reduction of oedema and bruising, lymphatic drainage may help improve the quality of healing and prevent the appearance of fibrosis or tissue irregularities. It is always performed under medical prescription and supervision, as part of a personalised recovery plan.

Therapeutic ultrasound forms part of the recovery protocols used after surgery, always under medical indication and supervision. After surgery, oedema, bruising and inflammation are common, as are changes in healing that may influence the final outcome. In this context, ultrasound acts as a supportive tool to encourage a more controlled recovery.

Painless treatment

The treatment is carried out using a handpiece that emits painless acoustic waves over the treated area. These generate a deep, controlled thermal effect that stimulates microcirculation, activates local metabolism and facilitates the reabsorption of accumulated fluid. The moment at which treatment begins depends on the type of surgery and on each patient’s clinical progress, with the surgeon determining when it is appropriate to start.

Prevention of fibrosis

In addition to helping reduce inflammation and oedema, ultrasound may help prevent or treat fibrosis in later post-operative stages. It is always integrated within a personalised recovery plan coordinated with the Surgical Centre, with the aim of optimising both the aesthetic and functional result.

Medical radiofrequency may form part of the recovery protocol after surgery, always under the indication and supervision of the specialist. After surgery, tissues go through a process of progressive repair during which residual inflammation, loss of firmness or a risk of fibrosis may appear if healing does not evolve optimally.

Once the acute inflammatory phase has passed

Applied at the appropriate time — never during the acute inflammatory phase — radiofrequency acts by generating controlled heating in the deeper layers of the skin. This thermal stimulus supports collagen activation and fibre reorganisation, improving the quality of the recovering tissue.

Restoring skin firmness

Its use is especially indicated in the intermediate or later stages of the post-operative period, when the goal is to optimise skin retraction, improve elasticity and support more even healing. It may also be useful in preventing or addressing areas with a tendency to harden or lose flexibility.

The timing of treatment, intensity and duration depend on the type of surgery and on each patient’s clinical progress, and it is always integrated within a personalised plan coordinated with the surgical team.

In more complex procedures, combining different techniques within the recovery protocol may be indicated. Alternating manual lymphatic drainage with radiofrequency, ultrasound, pressotherapy or specific manual techniques makes it possible to address different stages of the healing process and act on different tissue planes.

Aim of the combined approach

The aim of this combined approach is to support a more orderly post-operative recovery, optimise fluid reabsorption, improve the quality of the repairing tissue and contribute to a more even aesthetic result. The selection and sequence of each technique are always established according to the type of procedure and the patient’s clinical progress.

In the first weeks after surgery, sessions may be scheduled more frequently — usually between one and three per week — and are then spaced progressively as recovery advances. Planning, however, is always individualised.

Suitable for specific procedures

These protocols may be applied after procedures such as liposuction, abdominoplasty or facelift surgery, as well as after minimally invasive procedures involving tissue manipulation. In all cases, they are carried out under medical prescription and in coordination with the surgical team.